Pierced earring



Sept. 2%, 1965 R. PINTARELLI PIERCED EARRING Filed April 29, 1963 R O T N E V m @5372 PZ'WZQraZZZ' /M r 7MMM/ jzfarzzays.

United States Patent 3,208,239 PIERCED EARRING Ralph Pintarelli, 96 Waterman Ave., Johnston, R.I. Filed Apr. 29, I963, Ser. No. 276,325 2 Claims. (Cl. 63-12) The present invention relates to a pierced earring and to the method of making same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pierced earring having a body portion that includes a unique constructional arrangement for pivotally attaching an ear wire thereto.

The present invention, as hereinafter described, has application to that class of pierced earrings which have a generally circular shaped body portion. However, as will be understood from a description of the invention, the concept of the invention may be employed in pierced earrings having various designs, shapes and configurations.

Prior to the instant invention, pierced earrings that were fabricated in generally circular shape were normally constructed by soldering together two circular-like shells and thereafter aifixing the ear wire to an end of the soldered shells in pivotal relation by means of a pivot pin that projected through the shells. Although this prior type of earring construction had useful application, the steps required to solder the shells together and then to pivotally mount the ear wire prohibitively increased the cost of the finished earring. The present invention avoids the problems encountered in these prior known pierced earrings and includes a unique constructional arrangement, wherein the earring body portion is fabricated in a one-piece construction by stamping it from a blank piece of metal. Since the body portion is stamped from a blank form, any desired ornamental configuration may be achieved, and, moreover, various types of materials, such as aluminum, may be utilized, thereby materially decreasing the cost of manufacture of the finished earring.

Because the body portion of the earring of the present invention is formed in a one-piece construction, some means must be provided for pivotally securing the ear wire thereto. In order to accomplish this purpose, one of the opposed ends of the body portion as stamped is cut away during the stamping operation, and simultaneously formed therewith are a projection and tab. The tab extends outwardly of the end to which it is joined, while the projection is formed in the cut-away portion. The projection defines a pivot pin over which the loop of ear Wire is placed, and the tab is thereafter folded in overlying relation with respect to the projection to pivotally lock the ear wire in place. In the final assembly of the ear wire to the body portion, the tab is located such that the outer surface thereof is coincident with respect to the adjacent surface of the body portion. This lends a finished appearance to the earring construction and in no Way detracts from the ornamental characteristics thereof,

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new form of pierced earring construction wherein the body portion of the earring is stamped from a metal blank.

Another object is to provide an earring construction that is simple in the constructional details thereof .and is durable in use.

Another object is to provide an earring construction of the pierced type wherein the ear wire is pivotally locked to the body portion of the earring by a tab that is formed as an integral part of the body portion.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description there-of proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

3,298,239 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the pierced earring embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the earring illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the pierced earring illustrated in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view with parts shown in section of the earring illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of the pierced earring embodied herein showing the location of the foldable tab prior to the movement thereof to the folded position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective View similar to FIG. 5 showing the tab in the folded position thereof;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the ear wire that is secured in place on the body portion of the earring embodied herein; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, the earring construction embodied in the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and includes a body portion generally indicated at 12 and an ear wire generally indicated at 14. The body portion 12 of the earring construction 10, as illustrated in the drawing and particularly in FIG. 1, is formed in a generally crescent shape. This type of earring design is conventional in pierced earrings and is shown in the present invention for illustrative purposes only. It is understood that the concept of the invention may be incorporated in a pierced earring of any suitable design, shape, form or configuration. As will be discussed hereinafter, the crescent-shaped body portion 12 is stamped in one piece from blank form, thereby facilitating the manufacture and final assembly of the earring configuration.

In the formation of the body portion 1'2, opposed ends indicated at 16 and 18 are formed in spaced relation in the conventional manner. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be noted that a recess 20 is formed in the end 18 of the body portion 12 and is adapted to receive an end 22 of the ear wire 14 as is also conventional in earring constructions of this kind and as will be further explained. hereinafter.

In the stamping operation of the body portion 12 Wherein the desired shape and configuration of the body portion is formed, the end 16 thereof is also formed .in a manner as described below to accommodate the ear wire 14 thereon in pivotal relation. Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 8, the end 16 of the body portion 12 is shown cut out to define a shelf 24 and a shoulder 26. The cutout portion is formed such that the shoulder 26 extends somewhat more than one-half the total thickness of the end 16. During the stamping operation in which the end 16 is cut away to define the shelf 24 .and shoulder 26, a projection 28 is also integral with the shelf 24 and projects outwardly therefrom substantially perpendicular with respect to the surface thereof. As indicated in FIG. 8, the projection 28 extends less than the full dimension of the shoulder 26 but is of such a height as to accommodate he loop 30 formed on the ear wire 14.

Also formed on the body portion 12 during the stamping operation is a tab 32 which, as shown in full lines in FIG. 5, is formed as an extension of the end 16 and is generally coextensive with the shelf 24. In the assembly of the ear wire 14 to the body portion 12, the loop 30 is placed on the projection 28. However, since some frictional contact is desired between the loop 30 and the tab 32 folded thereover, the height of the projection 28 is formed almost equal to the cross sectional dimension of the wire that forms the loop 30. With loop 30 in place on the projection 28, the tab 32 is folded from the position illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 5 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6. In this position, and as shown in 0 FIG. 8, the tab 32 overlies the projection 28 and is located in engagement with the outer end thereof and in engagement with the adjacent surfaces of the loop 30 and thus mounts the ear wire 14 in place on the projection 28. As further shown in FIG. 8, the projection 28 is dimensioned so that it is less than the full height of the shoulder 26. This provides for receiving the tab 32 thereon such that the outer surface thereof is substantially coincident with the adjacent surface of the end 16 of the body portion 12.

As further seen in FIG. 8, the diameter of the wire forming the ear wire 14 as seen in cross section is only slightly smaller than the dimension of the projection 28. Thus, when the tab 32 is located in the folded position thereof, the loop 30 of the ear wire 14 substantially occupies the space provided between the tab 32 and the shelf 24. The loop 30 is thus locked in position on the projection 28 for pivotal movement with respect thereto; but the close fitting relation of the loop 30 between the tab 32 and the shelf 24 prevents undue sideways movement of the ear wire 14 with respect to the body portion 12. As described above, it is also desirable to have some frictional contact between the loop 30 and the opposed shelf 24 and tab 32 whereby the ear wire 14 may be re tained in any position to which it is moved.

When the earring construction 10 is to be assembled on the ear of the wearer, the ear wire 14 is passed through an opening in the wearers ear and is then locked in place by locating the relatively straight end 22 within the recess 20 of the end 18 of the body portion.

In carrying out the steps in the method of fabricating the earring construction 10, a blank form of any suitable metal material, such as aluminum, is utilized. However, it is understood that other metals that are capable of being gold or silver plated may also be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention. The body portion 12 is formed in a single operation, preferably by a stamping process wherein a suitable design is also etched or stamped in the body portion 12. Simultaneously with the formation of the body portion 12 to the desired configuration, one of the ends thereof which is indicated at 16 in the drawing is formed with the cutout section to define the shelf 24 and shoulder 26. The stamping operation further forms the projection 28 as an integral part of the shelf 24 and the tab 32 as an extension of the shelf 24. The opening 20 in the end 18 is then formed in a separate operation. With the end 16 stamped in the manner as illustrated in FIG. wherein the tab 32 extends outwardly with respect to the shelf 24 and as an extension thereof, the loop 30 of the ear Wire is placed in position over the projection 28. The tab 32 is then folded from the position illustrated in FIG. 5 to the position illustrated in FIG. 6 to engage the outer end of the projection 28 and thus lock the ear wire 14 in pivotal position on the projection 28. In the folding movement of the tab 32 to the final assembled position thereof, the tab is located such that the outer surface thereof is coincident with the adjacent surface of the end 16.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific method steps and structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pierced earring, a one-piece body portion generally extending in a plane and having ends that are located in generally opposed and spaced relation, one of said ends being notched at one side and at the end surface to define a shelf and a shoulder that is perpendicular to a surface of said shelf, a projection formed centrally on said shelf and extending perpendicularly with respect to the surface thereof and to the plane in which said body portion is located, said projection extending to less than the full height of said shoulder, an ear Wire having a loop formed thereon, said loop being received on said projection such that said ear wire is pivotal in a plane that is generally parallel with respect to the plane in which said body portion is located, and a tab joined to said shelf at one side and formed as an extension thereof, said tab being folded over said projection into engagement with the outer edge thereof to lock said loop on said projection, the outer surface of said tab in the folded position thereof being generally coincident with the surface of said body portion to which it is adjacent.

2. In an earring construction, a body portion generally extending in a plane and having the ends thereof located in spaced relation, a projection formed on one of said ends and extending in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of said body portion, an ear wire having a loop that is received on said projection in pivotal relation with respect thereto, a tab joined to the end on which said projection is formed and being folded in overlying relation with respect to said projection to retain said ear wire in pivotal position thereon, the end of said body portion on which said projection is formed being notched at one side and at the end surface to define a shelf portion, the width of said shelf portion corresponding to the Width of said tab, and said projection extending outwardly less than the full dimension of the portion that is notched so that in the folded position thereof the outer surface of said tab is substantially coextensive with the outer surface of the body portion to which it is adjacent.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 706,322 8/02 Kellogg 59-89 742,463 10/03 Lord 24-160 1,153,362 9/15 WaCha 5980 1,163,350 12/15 Lewis 24-160 3,033,010 5/62 Pintarelli 63-12 FOREIGN PATENTS 567,533 2/45 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A PIERCED EARRING, A ONE-PIECE BODY PORTION GENERALLY EXTENDING IN A PLANE AND HAVING ENDS THAT ARE LOCATED IN GENERALLY OPPOSED AND SPACED RELATION, ONE OF SAID ENDS BEING NOTCHED AT ONE SIDE AND AT THE END SURFACE TO DEFINE A SHELF AND A SHOULDER THAT IS PERPENDICULAR TO A SURFACE OF SAID SHELF, A PROJECTION FORMED CENTRALLY ON SAID SHELF AND EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO THE SURFACE THEREOF AND TO THE PLANE IN WHICH SAID BODY PORTION IS LOCATED, SAID PROJECTION EXTENDING TO LESS THAN THE FULL HEIGHT OF SAID SHOULDER, AN EAR WIRE HAVING A LOOP FORMED THEREON, SAID LOOP BEING RECEIVED ON SAID PROJECTION SUCH THAT SAID EAR WIRE IS PIVOTAL IN A PLANE THAT IS 